The demand for ever-increasing quantities of food, driven by a growing global population, coupled with a fixed area of arable land is necessitating the use of fertilizers produced from three essential minerals Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P) and Potassium (K) or (“NPK”) to cope with the world grain shortage. Accompanying this rise in agricultural demand is the importance of developing phosphate deposits to sustain global phosphate reserves, which are currently depleting. It’s estimated that “peak phosphorus” production will occur by 2030, creating an enormous challenge for global food production in the foreseeable future.

Peak Phosphorus Curve

Phosphorous Production (MT P/yr)

It takes one ton of phosphate to produce every 130 tons of grain, which is why the world mines about 170 million tons of phosphate rock every year to ship around the globe and keep soils fertile.

Peak Phosphorus Curve
Phosphorous Production (MT P/yr)

Over 80% of Phosphate reserves are held by Morocco, the largest supplier to international trade. The other two phosphate large reserves holders are the U.S and China, but both these countries use all that they produce internally.

NPK World Ranking by Demand

The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) forecasts that global agro-mineral consumption will grow by 45% between 2005-2030 and with this so will demand for phosphate rock (set to outstrip production within the next 20 years).

It is therefore clear that the worldwide agricultural industry, and our livelihood, is set to face some major hurdles in the near future.